Abia to partner Navy on security

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has restated his administ-ration’s eagerness to partner the Nigeria Navy to enable the state achieve internal security.

Speaking in Umuahia, the state capital, while receiving a delegation of the Navy led by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command Apapa Lagos Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed, Ikpeazu appreciated what the navy is doing in terms of ensuring that Abia remains one of the safest states in the country.

Ikpeazu who was represented by his Deputy Sir Ude Oko-Chukwu said that the state is at the forefront of championing the made in Nigeria products, adding that his government had at inception ensured that goods produced in Abia state are of high standards.

He said that it was the reason that brought about the shoe clusters and leather garment in Aba which has the capacity of producing enough shoes for the Nigerian Army, Navy and NYSC members and urged them to take advantage of the cluster and its products.

Ikpeazu commended officials of the Nigeria Navy further for their plans to expand its facilities in the state which will lead to improvement on the infrastructural development and security of the state.

He assured them that his government would do all in its power to enable them achieve their expansion drive as well as remove all the bottlenecks involved in the issuance of certificate of occupancy.

Earlier the FOC, Rear Admiral Mohammed said they are on a working vist to the state to ascertain ways of collaborating with the state government on the way forward especially in the area of internal security.

Admiral Mohammed however thanked Governor Ikpeazu for his support of the Nigeria Navy in the discharge of her constitutional roles in the area of infrastructural development in the state and donation of utility vehicles to the college.

The FOC restated the commitment of the navy in supporting the efforts of the state government in ensuring effective security of lives and property in the state and appealed to government to assist them complete the ring road within the Finance and Logistics college at Owerrinta and a guest house in Umuahia.

He said that there is need for the state government and the naval school at Owerrinta to have a synergy towards flushing out criminals in the state and thereby create an enabling environment for the made in Nigeria products to thrive.

Admiral Mohammed maintained that the pride of the state which is the made in Aba products need all the required security for those who would want to patronize them to come and make the state increase its isn’t ally generated revenue.

He said that his visit was approved by the Chief of Naval Staff, adding that the navy has the plans to establish Admiralty University at its current college at Owerrinta, “This university when operational will also admit Abia indigenes and increase the number of graduates in the state”.

In his reaction on the visit of the FOC to The Nation, the commandant of the College, Navy Captain Abdullahi Aminu said that he appreciates the Chief of Naval Staff and the FOC for their support in the fight against criminals in the state.

Capt Aminu said that security of the environment and the state they operate in is paramount to the navy and pledged to work harder in the fight against criminality in the state, while warning criminals to relocate or face their Waterloo.